RESEARCH

National Policy, Standards, Legislation & Enforcement

WORKSHOP ON WORKER SAFETY, HEALTH AND REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT

Moderator: Dr. G. Noonan; Panel: Dr. M. Hernandez , , .Dr. T. Matte, Dr. Li Zhu, Dr. D.J. Parikh, Dr. H.N. Saiyed

The panel started with short presentations by the panelists followed by questions and answers, at which time the audience was encouraged to participate in the discussions.

Three Case Studies from Mexico

  1. The first case study involved a large print shop that was not following the minimum industrial hygiene recommendations. In this case the employer did not provide minimum health facilities such as showers, respiratory protective devices (protective masks), gloves etc., which are required under the laws of Mexico.
  2. Radiator repair shops with similar findings as described above. The interventions that were discussed in this particular instance were primarily targeted at education and training.
  3. Traditional ceramics industries which are generally operated under very poor environmental conditions, many are family operated. Mexican government has issued a rule prohibiting the use of this type of pottery for cooking or contact with foods. The rule is adequate, however it is felt that it will be impossible to regulate this industry in the practical sense, and that there will be little compliance.

Cottage industries

Studies of cottage lead acid battery repair/recycling operations show that they can cause chronic lead intoxication in adults and when located on residential premises, severe acute poisoning in children. Conventional means of exposure control are not practical in these operations and education to change work practices can probably have only limited impact. Such operations at residential premises are inherently dangerous for children. Contamination from past operations may render sites hazardous even after operations cease, due to the environmental contamination. In Jamaica , the economic viability of cottage operations was due in part to high tariffs on imported batteries, high battery prices, and a lack of incentives for organized recycling. This suggests that in addition to efforts to educate operators in safer work practices, a mandatory deposit/refund system to increase the percentage of batteries recycled in the formal sector might be effective. Each type of cottage industry needs to be studied to understand pathways of exposure and identify potentially viable interventions.

Lead Poisoning Prevention in China

The government encouraged studies in 1980’s and 1990’s to protect women from lead poisoning. Due to a lack of understanding on the part of the people about the dangers of environmental contamination, they were building new houses next to a battery factory. When they were asked, they said that they had no idea as to why they shouldn’t build new houses next to the battery factory. The battery manufacturers also provided no personal protective equipment for the workers. Owners, managers, manufacturers and others who are involved with this type of work should be educated as to the dangers to health that are involved in various manufacturing processes.

In the countryside of China 20 years ago, 80% of the population was involved in farming or agriculture activities. Now because of changes in the country, 80% of the population is involved with industrial activities. Industries are more interested in making profit and are unfortunately not interested in providing money for occupational health programs. It is the duty of the government to implement rules and regulations for the protection of workers. It is very important in a developing country to formulate laws and regulations to protect workers’ occupational safety and health. However, introducing a law or regulation is one thing, following the law and regulation is another thing. Developing a law or regulation may take many years, while implementing it may need more years.

Health education and communication play an important role to ensure that the law or regulation is being implemented. China has passed laws for protecting labor and women employee labor, occupational health and environment protection for many years. But there is still a need for education in order to implement them effectively for the following reasons:

  1. Economy developed fast last two years, especially last ten years, with new factories

    2. established.

  2. Economic system was reformed, factories are run by local government, community, joint venture, and individual. Factories are established at county, township levels mostly by community or individuals.
  3. Local government leaders, community leaders, factory owners, factory managers, factory engineers, workers and their families are all associated with the issues of worker safety and health. However, they were lacking the knowledge, skill, altitude, and resource (management, money, manpower, and materials).

Recommendations:

  1. Pay attention to health education and communication with people in every part of the system related to worker safety and health.
  2. Provide as much as possible information to change their attitude, to improve their knowledge and skill.
  3. Use multi media for mass campaign, including TV, broadcasting, newspaper, magazines, poster, banners, handout, and pamphlets, and use simple language and terms which are easier for people to understand.
  4. Continuing mass campaign and education program.

Lead Exposure Prevention in India

Some of the sources of lead exposure are in small-scale cottage industries in India. They are battery re-conditioning and accumulating shops, welding shops, garage shops where workers and children are working in very pathetic conditions and in small work places exposed to lead fumes / dust. These units are not covered under the Indian Factories Act and ESIS (Employees State Insurance Scheme). Their safety, health and hygiene conditions are very poor. However, the big and organized industries like smelting and refining, pigments, paints, printing etc. are covered well by the regulatory authorities. They do have certain engineering control technology and personal protective equipments to minimize the lead exposure, but much more is required in these units for control and prevention of lead hazards. The factory inspectorate of each state is supposed to inspect and monitor these industries and advise them to keep the lead levels within the prescribed threshold limit value (TLV), and suggest remedial measures to minimize the risk of lead in these industries.

The following recommendations were made:

  1. Awareness and education related to lead hazards / poisoning through audio- visual means in local languages for workers working in small-scale cottage units and small shops.
  2. Hazardous small shops and cottage units should be covered under the Factories Act.
  3. A need for environmental cum medical survey in such units where lead levels are very high.

There is a Factories (Amendment ) Act 1987 to safeguard the health and safety of workers in all hazardous occupations including lead exposure. Under "Model Factory Rules" there is a special schedule to deal with certain work processes involving lead exposure. The major features of the Act and rules are as follows:

  1. The workers and surrounding community have right to know about the health hazards from the work process.
  2. Pre-employment and periodic medical examination of workers, including estimation of blood lead levels, is required, and environmental lead levels should be kept below the permissible limits.
  3. However, the enforcement is poor because of lack of resources available to the inspectorate such as equipment, trained personnel and the necessary chemicals. Moreover, the factories Act is not applicable to small and cottage factories which are more in number and are more hazardous. There is also the problem of the exposure of children and pregnant women (and thus fetuses) from hazardous substances such as lead, because many of these "cottage industries" are run by families in their own houses.

The following need to be implemented:

  1. Strengthening of Factory Inspectorate to enforce the existing laws. The industrial hygiene laboratory of each state should have equipment and other infrastructure necessary for measurement of lead levels.
  2. Education of the general population and workers about "Right to Know" issues.
  3. Campaign to educate workers regarding health effects of lead including that on children and the dangers of "carry home" or "take home" exposure and its adverse effects on susceptible populations such as pregnant women and young children.

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